I have always said “I could happily become a vegetarian if it weren’t for bacon.”
Truthfully, I’m not a big fan of meat. Haven’t been for years. But bacon… salty, crispy, delicious goodness… I have given up meat, but that doesn’t mean that I don’t still like sometimes crave a BLT or a slice with weekend brunch.
Also, I live with a small carnivore, and while we’ve had many conversations lately about becoming vegetarians, I don’t feel like it’s right for me to force my beliefs on him. Our compromise is that he is welcome to eat meat when we eat out, and we are going to try more vegetarian meat-like products like bacon or pepperoni.
So, here are the results of our Fakin’ Bacon Taste Test.
Tofurky’s Smoky Maple Bacon Marinated Tempeh
Price: around $5
Available: most supermarkets, like IGA, Superstore, Save-On, but Donald’s has the best selection
What we thought: Tempeh is a fermented soy, which is supposed to be better for you than plain soy. However, it has a ricey, grainy texture that is very unlike bacon. It also looks more like ground beef that’s been formed into a loaf than like bacon. Michael says “it tastes like your hamburgers, mom.” Which is true, because my “hamburgers” are usually Money’s Mushroom burgers, or the Costco equivalent.
Rating: Meh
Yves Veggie Bacon Strips or Canadian Back Bacon
Price: $4.50
Available: most supermarkets, like IGA, Superstore, Save-On, but Donald’s has the best selection
What we thought: it comes in two versions: strips or round. Both are the same recipe, though, so it’s your choice as to what shape your prefer. This is also a soy-based product, but it has a smooth texture, and the marbling effect of real bacon. The strips are quite thick, though. It think Yves’ bacon is okay, and I like the idea of supporting a local company. However, my main beef (ha!) with all of their products is that they all kind of taste the same–the pepperoni tastes like the ham slices tastes like the bacon. Michael says “it’s kind of dry.”
Rating: It’ll do
MorningStar Farms Veggie Bacon Strips
Price: $6-7
Available: Trader Joe’s, or in Vancouver at Pirate Joe’s, 2349 W 4th
What we thought: thin and crispy, this bacon is the closest thing I’ve tasted to it’s pork namesake. This stuff is delicious. I doubt that it would fool a real meat-eater, but it might come close. The drawback of this one is that it’s the only one that isn’t vegan–it uses egg whites in the recipe. It looks the most like real bacon, as well.
Rating: it’s the bomb.com!
A quick word about cooking veggie bacon:
Start with a smoking hot pan, preferably cast iron. Add about a tablespoon of coconut oil, as it has a really high smoking point, and the bacon won’t really get brown and crispy without it. When the oil is hot, add your bacon, and watch it! Turn after a minute or two. When it’s browned, drain it on paper towels. It crisps up after you take it out of the pan.